Effect of skeletal miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expansion on root resorption, buccal bone thickness and tooth inclination: a retrospective CBCT study.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the effect of miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expansion (MARPE) on root resorption, buccal bone thickness, and tooth inclination.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

This study included 30 patients with maxillary constriction who were treated with MARPE. The device was left in place for 6 months for retention. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images were taken before treatment and after 6 months. CBCT images were analyzed for root length, buccal bone thickness, and tooth inclination for premolars and first molar on both sides. A paired t-test was used to compare between pretreatment and posttreatment root lengths, buccal bone thickness, and buccal tooth inclination.

RESULTS

No significant differences were found between pretreatment and posttreatment root lengths of all measured teeth (P value > .05). A significant difference was found in the buccal bone thickness at the right second premolar at the levels of 2 mm and 8 mm (P = .049 and P = .039, respectively) and at the level of 2 mm for the left second premolar (P = .009). Buccal bone thickness at the right and left mesiobuccal root of the first molar at 8 mm was significantly reduced after expansion (P = .001). The difference between pre-expansion and postexpansion in tooth inclination ranged between -1.87 and 0.27. Only the inclination of the left first molar was significantly increased after expansion.

CONCLUSIONS

No root resorption was caused by the bone-borne MARPE. No change in buccal bone thickness and inclination of most of the posterior maxillary teeth was found.